Η αμπελοκουτσούρα.

Abstract

"The Grapevine" is one of the most characteristic of the island's folk songs. The text is a hymn to the grapevine and the wine it yields. This is only natural, for the vine has been associated with Ikaria since antiquity, and the "Pramnian wine" sung of by the ancient poets was the island's most famous product. The rhythm of the melody in this recording displays irregularities that made transcripition somewhat difficult. The stress on the first, long, dotted note at the beginning of the melody creates the impression of an asymmetric 7/8 time, which suits the archaic style of the song (both text and melody); but this rhythm is not maintained througout the melodic line, shich could just as easily be written in 2/4 time. The text is written in fifteen syllable iambic meter.